Jamie Carragher has warned that Chelsea could lose Cole Palmer if they fail to compete for major silverware, following their humbling 3-0 defeat to Brighton.
The Liverpool legend highlighted Palmer’s growing frustration and suggested that the forward may look to leave if the club’s struggles continue under Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea were outplayed from start to finish at the Amex Stadium. A stunning solo goal from Kaoru Mitoma put Brighton ahead in the first half, while Yankuba Minteh added two more on either side of halftime to seal a dominant victory.
Chelsea had no response, failing to register a single shot on target as Brighton bounced back from consecutive league defeats.
The loss leaves Chelsea at risk of dropping out of the top four, with Manchester City able to overtake them by beating Newcastle. Meanwhile, Palmer endured another frustrating evening, extending his goal drought to five games.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher stressed that Palmer is too good to be part of a struggling team.
“He’s one of the best players in the Premier League,” Carragher said. “If Chelsea don’t improve and start competing for trophies, he will want to leave. He wants to be fighting for the Champions League and Premier League, not just making up the numbers.”
Carragher didn’t hold back in his assessment of Chelsea’s performance, calling it a humiliating display.
“Brighton absolutely battered them in every department,” he said. “It could have been a lot worse. You look at the Chelsea fans, they’re furious—and rightly so.”
With pressure mounting on Maresca, Carragher warned that Chelsea’s season could spiral out of control unless they quickly turn things around.
“They’ve been completely outclassed. They need to get back to winning games fast, or this season could completely unravel,” he said.
Carragher also dismissed the importance of Chelsea’s European campaign, implying that even success in that competition wouldn’t earn them much credit.
“They’re playing in a competition that Chelsea shouldn’t even be in,” he added. “Even if they win it, I don’t think it changes much.”
With tougher fixtures ahead, Maresca faces a crucial period to restore faith in his team—and perhaps convince Palmer that Chelsea is still the right place for him.